Empirical validation of the OCRAT framework. A holistic and systematic guideline for audio-only instructional design.

This work empirically validates 23 audio-only instructional guidelines regrouped under the Organisation Content Retention Auditory and Technology (OCRAT) framework. A total of 10 audio courses consisting of 40 audio lessons/chapters equivalent to around 3 h on various topics in agriculture and fisheries were devised based on the OCRAT guidelines. A group of 225 and 180 literate and semi-literate populations both in Mauritius and India were identified. Through a range of ten (10) courses regrouping the respective audio lessons, the framework was tested over an ACALEs platform. A survey was conducted on learners who participated and completed the course. From the collected data, empirical testing using inferences on population proportions based on the binomial distribution was conducted to validate the proposed set of guidelines. The results proved to be very conclusive. Moreover, this work elaborates even further on the validated guidelines and substantiates them with additional literature. Henceforth, it can confidently be used by instructional designers for the development of interactive audio-only courses not only on ACALEs platforms but even with conventional audio-based learning like radio programs.

Consumption of Moringa oleifera Lam Leaves Lowers Postprandial Blood Pressure.

Objective: This clinical study monitored the effect of eating cooked Moringa oleifera leaves on the blood pressure (BP) of healthy participants in view of the perception that consumption of Moringa is associated with an increase in blood pressure, which is contradictory to the findings from the literature.Methods: A random sample of 41 healthy participants were enrolled in this prospective, placebo-controlled clinical study. Participants in the case study consumed 120 g of cooked M. oleifera leaves while the control group did not eat Moringa leaves. BP was measured at baseline before the meal and followed up at regular intervals over 24 hours for both groups. Baseline (T0) mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and postprandial follow-up (T2-T24) were measured for both groups. Participants recorded their diet for a week and this led to an estimation of the total salt consumption per day.Results: A significant difference was observed between DBP at baseline and two hours postprandial (T2) for the case group (p = 0.013). Moreover, in the case group, despite high consumption of salt (7 g/d) during the week preceding the clinical study, there was a significant decrease in both the SBP and DBP. In the control group, participants with prior high consumption of salt (7 g/d) during the week had elevated SBP and DBP.Conclusions: These findings in human subjects indicated the lowering effect of Moringa oleifera leaves consumption on the 2 hours postprandial BP and showed a potential lowering effect on both SBP and DBP despite prior high consumption of salt (7 g/d).

The health impact of nonhazardous solid waste disposal in a community: the case of the Mare Chicose landfill in mauritius.

The disposal of nonhazardous solid waste on the island of Mauritius is centered on the Mare Chicose landfill. Because of health concerns in the community, the authors conducted a health impact survey, took measurements of height and weight, and compared the results with a control locality. After adjusting for confounding factors, the authors observed that numerous complaints were significantly higher in the target population. After elimination of reporting bias, however, nausea and vomiting remained as the only significant self-reported outcomes. The mean body mass index (BMI) of target men was significantly lower when compared with the control. This result was not observed in the populations of women and children, and suggests a gender difference in the health impact of the landfill.